Improvement in horse hay-rakes



`JOSEPH MILLS, OF MILAN, INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 106,604, dated Ang'ztst 23, 1870A IMPROVEMENT 1N HORSE HAY-RAKES.

The'Shedule referred to in these Letters Patent. and making part of the salue I, JOSEPH MILLS, of Milan, Ripley county, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Horse IIay-Rake, of

which the following is a specication.

Nature and Objects of the Invention..

This invention relates to that class of horse hayrakes which consist of a horizontal barorhead armed with a number of teeth or tines, that are adapted to revolve at the proper moment, and deposit the gathered hay in a windrow on theground; and t Myinvel'ltion consists exclusively in certain devices for controlling the operation ot' the rake proper, which devices will be hereafter fully described.

General Description with. Reference to t/w Drawing.

Figure 1 isa perspective view of an implementen]- hodying my imln'ovement, the rake being shown in position for gathering hay.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through one of the couplings, which unite the head of tl1e`\,1alre to the handles, the rake being in the gathering position, and the section taken in the plane of the handle.

Figure 3 is a section in the same plane as iig. 2, with the handles ofthe implement thrown forward, and the rake show n as in the act of rotating.

Figure 4 is a lsection through one of the couplings in the plane of the rake-head. Y

The head, A, of the rake yconsists of a stout beam that is armed with two set-olf oppositely-projecting teeth or tines, B B', and this head has immovably ,sev cured to it, by means ot'screws or bolts, C, two rings, D D', each otwhosel peripheryv is provided with two ratchets, E E', and two pockets, F F

The ratchets E E' are designed to 'engage with the free ends of gravitating pawls G, while the pockets F' F have pivoted within them gravitatiug latches H H'. Surroniuling the rings D D', and completely inclosing the devices-E E', F F', and H H', are annular clamps, I 1', that aire hinged to each other at t. '-Ihe pauls G are pivoted to the upper members I. These upper clamps I have recesses, J, sufficiently large to receive the pawls G, and the lower clamps l' have similar recesses, J", to admit either of the latches H Il. Lateral displacement of the clamps is prevented hy flanges i', which embrace the sides of the rings D D', as shown in Iig. 4.

The clamps I l have rearward extensions, K K', which are united to'the handles L L' ofthe implement by bolts it', and screw-threaded hooks N N', the lattenserving for the attachment ot' the traces o o', by which the horses arehitched to the implement.

The operation is as follows: I

When the machine is drawn across the' `field itrests upon the lower clamps I I', which act as runners to the rake, and the forwardly protecting teeth B are depressed sutliciently to gather up the hay, without coming in contact with the ground. In this gathering l position of the rake the latches H' impinge against the shoulders ot' the recesses J', and thereby effect,- ually prevent the rotation of head A and tines B B', while the other' latches H .are contained within t-he pockets F of the rings D, as clearly shown in fig. 2.

After a sutiicient quantity ot' hay has been gathered upon the tines Ii, and it is desired to deposit it in a windrow, the rotation of the ralie is etfected in the following manner The drivel' grasps the handles L L and elevates them so as to lift the `head from ott" the ground', and causethe teeth B to penetrate the same,

and, as the horses are drawing the implement forward,

this .act causes the rake to assume a position like that shown in tig. 3.

\Vhen the implement has been brought into this position, the latches H' drop, by their own weight, into the pockets F', and, there heilig no longer anything to prevent the rotation of head A, it instantly revolves, thereby discharging the gathered hay from the teeth B, and bringing the other set of teeth, B', into the position previously occupied by the ones. B.

In this changed position of the implement the pawls G engage with` the shoulders ofthe other ratchets, E', and the latches H now drop into the recesses J', and prevent the rotation of the rake until the handles have again been elevated.

The pawls G striking against the shoulders of one set ofthe ratchets E limit this return movement of the rake-head. The forward inclination of the handle L has been somewhat exaggerated in tig. 3 forthe purpose of more clearlyexhibiting the operative parts.

Itis evident that the ratchets, pawls, and latches can be so arranged as to liberate the head ofthe rake before the handles have assumed a vertical position.

- rClaim.

I claim herein as new 'and of my invention 'Ihe combination, substantially as herein described, of the rake-head A, B B', xed rings D D', ratchets E E', pockts F F', pawls G, latches H H', hinged and hanged clamps I I', i t', recessesJ J', extensions K K'-, and handles L L', for the purpose set forth.

In testimony ot' which invention I hereunto set lny hand.

J OSEPH MILLS.

Witnesses z G-Eo. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

